Sunday Journal Prompt

When the Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most about humanity, he answered, “Man, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then, he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then, he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die and then dies having never really lived.”

 

When have you pushed yourself so hard that you got sick? What were the consequences of that? What specific steps can you take to avoid this?

Sunday Journal Prompt

“What you seek seeks you.”

 – Rumi  

 

The universe is not out to get us, though it may seem that way at times. In this quote from 13th-century Persian poet, philosopher and theologian Rumi, the Sufi mystic tells us that what we want is what wants us. So what is stopping us from getting what we want? What’s delaying the ability for what we want to find us? Often it’s ourselves.

Is there anything you’re doing or not doing that’s blocking you from getting what you want? Perhaps it’s a counterproductive action or belief. How can you reduce obstacles or shift your beliefs so that what you seek can find you?

Sunday Journal Prompt

“Writing down the energy drainers and boosters helped me see the things I need to cut out of my life.”

– Kaitlyn Ambrose, Ohio State University student

 

We spend time with people and participate in activities daily. Some inspire us, and others drain us. By interacting with them on the page, you’re likely to come to new discoveries.

Make two columns on your page. On the left, list the things that drain your energy—such as tasks, activities and people. (My list includes sugar, lack of sleep and negative people.) On the right, list what gives you energy—tasks, activities and people. (For me, those include laughing with my children and writing in my journal.)

Choose a few items and do a freewrite about them—which means that you keep writing for a few minutes even if you’re not sure what you want to say. Afterwards, answer these questions: How you can spend more time with energy givers and less time with energy drainers? Continue to think about and contribute to this list over the next few days. Keep considering this: What can you do more or less of to regain energy—to stoke the fire within you?

Sunday Journal Prompt

Nature can heal our nature.

A walk in the woods always lifts my mood. According to Japanese religion Shintoism, a divine spirit dwells in all of nature and brings joy and bounty to life—which connects to a positive state of mind. The Japanese practice Shinrin-yoku, “forest bathing,” has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and blood pressure while raising energy, according to scientists at Chiba University in Japan. And breathing in phytoncides, compounds trees release, may boost our immune system for more than a month, according to an Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine study.

How has being in nature benefited you in the past? What can you do today to benefit from nature’s healing effects?